A Cajon is a very simple box drum.
Usually made from plywood with a thin plywood front or playing surface (tappa).
The cajon box drum is thought to have originated in Peru. In the 16th century, African slaves would make these instruments from old packing crates and use them to replace the native drums of Africa. Also in Cuba cajon drums where made from old drawers and other household box type structures and used to accompany Cuban and Latino Styles of music.
The word Cajon actually means box, or drawer in Spanish.
And the cajon is found as a major player in Spanish Flamenco music.
The cajon, being a very simple instrument and originally made from any old thing which was around, became popular in many forms of music, similar box drums cvan be found in Blues music and many forms of folk music.
Over the years the cajon developed and people started making additions to the original box drum. The addition of internal wires to giving a snare sound added another dimension to the instrument and many different snare systems have developed since.
The versatility, simple construction and ease of playing has now brought the cajon into an even wider range of music and many styles of playing have developed.
The canjon can be thought of as a drum kit in a box.
Modern cajons feature adjustable snare sounds, adjustable bass dampening and some drums even have pickups installed for easy amplifacation.
The spirit of the cajon is the spirit of music. Such a simple and effective instrument allows anyone to start banging out a simple beat and easily build up to more complex patterns.
Here is a video when we were making cajons :
